Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Although I had seen this Frank Miller /Dan Adkins Batman drawing before, I didn’t know it was Frank Miller’s first published Batman art. It appeared in Mediascene #40 in 1979. Click on the art to see a biggie-sized version.
Frank Miller would go on to create Batman: The Dark Knight Returns seven years later.
Source: John Livesay.
The teaser for Fubar starring Arnold Schwarzenegger is below. Because it come from Nick Santora, stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and is on Netflix, checking it out will be a no-brainer. I just hope it has the right mix of action and comedy.
ARNOLD. IS. BACK. MAY 25. And starring in his first series ever: FUBAR – Everything else is top secret, except for that ice pack he’s gonna need. To receive classified updates click here: https://netflix.com/FUBAR
Also starring Monica Barbaro, Milan Carter, Fortune Feimster, Travis Van Winkle, Jay Baruchel, Andy Buckley, Aparna Brielle, Barbara Eve Harris, Fabiana Udenio and Gabriel Luna.
From creator Nick Santora (Reacher, Prison Break): A CIA operative on the verge of retirement discovers a family secret. Forced to go back into the field for one last job, FUBAR tackles universal family dynamics set against a global backdrop of spies, action and humor.
This is Brent Schoonover’s take on Sly as Jack Carter and it’s a great one. Brent was creating art for folks who’d donate to the Special Olympics and I jumped on board. How awesome is it that Brent was drawing for charity? Very awesome is the correct answer. If you’d like to see more of Brent’s art check out his website or his Twitter.
Congratulations to Sly Stallone for his well deserved nomination for his Critics Choice Super Awards nomination as Best Actor and to all involved for TULSA KING’s nomination for Best Action Series!
Kiss the Blood Off My Hands (1948)
Director: Norman Foster
Writer: Leonardo Bercovici (screenplay),Walter Bernstein, Ben Maddow (adaptation), Hugh Gray (dialogue), Philip MacDonald (uncredited) based on the novel Kiss the Blood Off My Hands by Gerald Butler
Stars: Joan Fontaine, Burt Lancaster, Robert Newton, Jay Novello and Reginald Sheffield
Tagline: “A Hunted Man! A Love-Haunted Woman! Caught! With Every Kiss More Reckless, More Dangerous Than the Last”
The Plot…
Bill Saunders (Lancaster) is a former POW suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. He’s on the run for accidentally killing a man. In order to escape the police, Bill enters a window. Jane Wharton (Fontaine) wakes to find a stranger in her room. Jane believes Bill that the man’s death was an accident.
Bill and Jane slowly develop a relationship. All is going well until, Harry Carter (Newton) a local hood, recognizes Bill from the fight that killed a man. Carter says he will go to the police unless Bill helps him with a planned robbery. Bill wants no part of the deal, but knows if he goes to jail he’ll lose Jane.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Kiss the Blood Off My Hands was ahead of it’s time in the portrayal of PTSD. Yet, the love affair and ending of the film is right out of the 40s.
Kiss the Blood Off My Hands earns 3 of 5 stars.
Loco Boy Makes Good (1942)
Director: Jules White
Writer: Felix Adler, Clyde Bruckman
Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Symona Boniface, Heinie Conklin, Vernon Dent, Charles Dorety and Bud Jamison
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
When the boys learn that an old woman is going to lose her hotel, they decide to help her raise money to save the place. Our guys help her spruce up the joint (with their usual success). They then put on a big show with Curly accidentally ending up wearing a magician’s coat. What could go wrong?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Four years after Loco Boy Makes Good‘s release, Harold Lloyd, the silent film star, sued Columbia Pictures for copyright infringement. Lloyd won. Clyde Buckman, the director of Loco Boy Makes Good also directed Lloyd’s film Movie Crazy. Both featured the same magician’s coat sequence.
Loco Boy Makes Good earns 4 of 5 stars.
Quiz Whizz (1958)
Director: Jules White
Writer: Searle Kramer
Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe Besser, Greta Thyssen and Emil Sitka
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
When Joe is scammed out of $15,000 of quiz show winnings, the boys go to get back the cash. The scammers convince our guys to pose as children for a rich couple. What the Stooges don’t know is that the rich couple was in on the scam and plan to kill our guys!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Quiz Whizz features Joe Besser as one of the Three Stooges. Many fans don’t appreciate his comedy, but I’m not one of them. While I prefer Curly and Shemp, I don’t mind Joe Bessor joining the team. I like that he had his own persona and didn’t try to copy what had been done before him.
Quiz Whizz earns 3 of 5 stars.
Boston Strangler starring Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon looks good. Since it’s going to be on HULU watching will be a no-brainer.
Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon star in the true-crime thriller Boston Strangler, streaming March 17 on Hulu.
“Boston Strangler” from 20th Century Studios and writer/director Matt Ruskin premieres March 17, 2023, exclusively on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ under the Star banner in all other territories. The trailer for the true-crime thriller about the trailblazing reporters who broke the story of the notorious Boston Strangler murders of the 1960s is available now.
“Boston Strangler” stars two-time Oscar® nominee Keira Knightley (“The Imitation Game,” “Pride & Prejudice”), Emmy® nominee Carrie Coon (“Fargo,” “The Gilded Age”), Alessandro Nivola (“Amsterdam”), David Dastmalchian (“Dune”), Morgan Spector (“Homeland”), Bill Camp (“Joker”), and Academy Award® winner Chris Cooper (“Adaptation”). Written and directed by Matt Ruskin (“Crown Heights”), the film is produced by Ridley Scott (“The Martian”), Kevin J. Walsh (“House of Gucci”), Michael Pruss (“American Woman”), Josey McNamara (“Promising Young Woman”), and Tom Ackerley (“I, Tonya”), with Michael Fottrell (“The Fate of the Furious”) and Sam Roston serving as executive producers. Sam Roston is overseeing for Scott Free and Bronte Payne for LuckyChap.
The film follows Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley), a reporter for the Record-American newspaper, who becomes the first journalist to connect the Boston Strangler murders. As the mysterious killer claims more and more victims, Loretta attempts to continue her investigation alongside colleague and confidante Jean Cole (Carrie Coon), yet the duo finds themselves stymied by the rampant sexism of the era. Nevertheless, McLaughlin and Cole bravely pursue the story at great personal risk, putting their own lives on the line in their quest to uncover the truth.
Goof on the Roof (1953)
Director: Jules White
Writer: Clyde Buckman
Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard
Tagline: The Fix-It Boys…Out-Foxed Again!
The Plot…
When the boys learn their roommate is getting married, they decide to save him some money and install a television antenna themselves. What could go wrong?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Goof on the Roof’s story has the boys destroying a house to install a tv antenna. There’s not much we haven’t seen before and without a cast to interact with, it becomes a bit redundant. My favorite part is probably the “glug-glug-glug” sounds made when a bucket of water ends up on a Stooge’s head.
Shemp, who had replaced Curly due to his declining health caused by strokes, suffered a mild stroke himself with two weeks of completed filming of Goof on the Roof.
Goof on the Roof earns 3 of 5 stars.
Barbara Bosson died on February 18, 2023, at the age of 83.
After her high school graduation Barbara Bosson moved to New York and worked a variety of jobs (secretary, production assistant, Playboy bunny) as she pursued an acting career.
Barbara Bosson’s first acting credit is as a nurse in the Steve McQueen classic, Bullet. Barbara Bosson would go on to act on television and feature films for the rest of her career. She was nominated for 5 consecutive (1981 – 1985) Prime Time Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Hill Street Blues. In 1996, she was nominated for a sixth Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Murder One.
Some of Barbara Bosson’s television appearances include: The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (5 episodes); Mannix; Longstreet; Emergency; Alias Smith & Jones; Ironside; McMillan & Wife (2 episodes); Richie Brockelman, Private Eye (5 episodes); Calendar Girl Murders; Hill Street Blues (103 episodes); LA Law (2 episodes); The New Mike Hammer; Hotel; Murder She Wrote; Hooperman (42 episodes); Cop Rock (11 episodes); Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; NYPD Blue; Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (2 episodes); Murder One (41 episodes) and Murder One: Diary of a Serial Killer (6 episodes).
Some of Barbara Bosson’s feature film appearances include: Bullet; Capricorn One and The Last Starfighter.
It’s hard for me to say where I first saw Barbara Bosson. Early in her career she appeared on several shows that I regularly watched. I can say for sure that my favorite Barbara Bosson role was on Hill Street Blues. I wasn’t alone. She was nominated 5 years in a row for a Prime Time Emmy for her performance in that role.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Barbara Bosson’s family, friends and fans.
Jansen Panettiere died yesterday at the age of 28. No cause of death was announced.
Jansen Panettiere followed his older sister into an acting career. In addition to television and feature film roles, Mr. Panettiere also did voice work.
Some of Jansen Panettiere’s television appearances include: Third Watch; Blue’s Clues (voice – 4 episodes); Tiger Cruise; The X’s (voice – 15 episodes); Everybody Hates Chris; Major Crimes and The Walking Dead.
Some of Jansen Panettiere’s feature film appearances include: Racing Stripes (voice); Robots (voice); Ice Age: The Meltdown (voice); The Babysitters and The Forger.
The majority of Jansen Panettiere’s resume includes projects not geared to my demographic. I did hear his voice work in Blue’s Clues (watched with my grandson) and his acting in The Walking Dead.
It’s sad whenever someone dies at such a young age.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jansen Panettiere’s family, friends and fans.
Rhythm and Weep (1946)
Director: Jules White
Writer: Felix Adler
Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard and Jack Norton
Tagline: None
The Plot…
When the boys are unable to find work for their vaudeville act, they decide to end it all. They go to the roof of a skyscraper prepared to jump. Once there, our guys are surprised to find three woman dancers with the same idea. It’s love at first sight. The boys and the women decide to put together a comedy/dancing act. And just like that a millionaire offers to sponsor the show. What could go wrong?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Sadly, due to a series of strokes, Rhythm and Weep would be Curly’s second to last Stooges’ feature. Accommodations had to be made on set for Curly’s scenes due to his inability to remember lines. That could also be one of the reasons there is an emphasis on dancing in Rhythm and Weep. Despite his health, Curly still provides laughs, especially when he pulls a Michael Jackson Smooth Criminal move while on the ledge of a skyscraper.
Larry breaks the fourth wall with a funny comment when after hugging a girl, looks directly into the camera and says, “This I like! And I get paid for it, too!”
Rhythm and Weep earns 4 of 5 stars.
Richard Belzer, the comedian, actor and author, died today. He was 78. No cause of death was given.
Richard Belzer began his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian. He appeared in the low-budget film The Groove Tube in 1974. He was also a featured comedian on the National Lampoon Radio Hour along with John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, and Harold Ramis. Richard Belzer would go on to be the audience warm-up comedian for Saturday Night Live. Mr. Belzer would go on to make three guest appearances on the show. In addition to stand-up, Richard Belzer appeared in television and movies throughout his career.
Some Richard Belzer appearances in feature films include: The Groove Tube; Fame; Author! Author!; Night Shift; Scarface; Fletch Lives; The Bonfire of the Vanities; A Very Brady Sequel; Species II and The Comedian.
Some of Richard Belzer’s television appearances include: Sesame Street (2 episodes); Saturday Night Live (3 episodes); Moonlighting; Miami Vice; The Flash (10 episodes); Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart; Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (4 episodes); The Invaders (2 episodes); The X-Files; Mad About You; Homicide: Life on the Street (122 episodes); Homicide: The Movie; Law & Order (4 episodes); South Park; 3rd Rock from the Sun; Law & Order: Trial by Jury; The Wire; 30 Rock (2 episodes); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (326 episodes) and American Dad.
Richard Belzer also wrote four books on conspiracy theories.
I first saw Richard Belzer in The Groove Tube. Who could have imagined that the young comedian would go on to have a distinguished acting career, and author several books!
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Richard Belzer’s family, friends and fans.
Gerald Fried, the composer, conductor and musician died yesterday from pneumonia. He was 95.
Mr. Fried attended attended The Juilliard School of Music. He became friends with Stanley Kubrick and scored short, Day of the Fight. He also Kubrick’s Fear and Desire; Killer’s Kiss; The Killing and Paths of Glory. Mr. Fried would spend his career alternating between feature films and television.
Some of Gerald Fried’s films include: Day of the Fight; Fear and Desire; Killer’s Kiss; The Killing; Paths of Glory; Machine-Gun Kelly; I Bury the Living; Terror in a Texas Town; Birds Do It, Bees Do It and Star Trek: The Final Darkness.
Some television series that feature music by Gerald Fried include: M Squad (3 episodes); Wagon Train; Riverboat (15 episodes); Shotgun Slade (23 episodes); Ben Casey (3 episodes); Rawhide; Gunsmoke: T.H.E. Cat (3 episodes); My Three Sons (2 episodes); It’s About Time (26 episodes); Gilligan’s Island (51 episodes); Mr. Terrific (17 episodes); The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (45 episodes); Star Trek (4 episodes); Lost in Space (2 episodes); Family Affair (2 episodes); Mission Impossible (6 episodes); Mannix; Police Story; Roots (4 episodes); Police Woman (4 episodes); Rescue from Gilligan’s Island; Roots: The Next Generations (7 episodes); The Castaways of Gilligan’s Island; Emergency (2 episodes); Flamingo Road (9 episodes); The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island; The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: 15 Years Later; Roots: The Gift and Star Trek: Phase II;
Gerald Fried was nominated for 5 Prime Time Emmy Awards; winning one – Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for “Roots” (Part I) (1977) (shared with Quincy Jones)
Mr. Fried was nominated for one Academy Award for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score for Birds Do It, Bees Do It.
Mr. Fried worked on many of my favorite shows of my youth and with Kubrick on some of my favorite crime films. What a career he had!
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Wood’s family, fans and friends.
It was announced today that Oliver Wood, cinematographer on many Hollywood hits died on February 13, 2023. The cause of death was cancer. He was 80.
Mr. Wood’s career began in 1969 on the low budget feature Popdown. In 1970, he served as Director of Photography on The Honeymoon Killers. Oliver Wood caught Hollywood’s attention after he served as director of photography for 53 episodes of Miami Vice. For the rest of his career Mr. Wood worked on major Hollywood films.
Some films featuring Oliver Wood include: Die Hard 2; The Adventures of Ford Fairlane; Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey; Rudy; Mr. Holland’s Opus; 2 Days in the Valley; Face/Off; Mighty Joe Young; The Bourne Identity; The Bourne Supremacy; Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby; The Bourne Ultimatum; Step Brothers; Safe House; Two Guns; Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues; Child 44; Jack Reacher: Never Go Back; The Equalizer 2 and Morbius.
Oliver Wood had an amazing career. His ability to work in features of all genres is impressive.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Wood’s family, fans and friends.
